January 2016

WHEEL PEOPLE Vol. 35 No. 1 January 2016

Newsletter of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association

P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502

Consider making an increased commitment to getting to work by bike, rain or shine; do your lightweight shopping by bike; go to the gym by bike; visit your friends by bike; go to the restaurant by bike; and get in shape by riding all you can in 2016. You will find it exhilarating.

Those with a ** next to their name gave an additional donation. Those with *** have given a $25 or greater donation. Thanks to all those who have joined or renewed their commitment and those who have given additional donations to support our many causes.

Get on board now for all the benefits, including discounts at all the bike shops.

If you haven’t already renewed for calendar year 2016, your membership has expired. Please see the application form at the end of the newsletter.

The Next Regular Meeting will be Held on January 25th in Eureka

The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, January 25th, at Chapala’s
Café, 2nd and C Streets in Eureka. Dinner is optional. Agenda items may be suggested by emailing info@humbike.org.

The HBBCA is Returning to Quarterly Meetings

Beginning in January, the HBBCA will be holding meetings quarterly instead of every other month. Meetings will be held on the 4th Monday of January, April, July and October, alternating between Eureka and Arcata.

For many years, we held quarterly meetings, then we went to bimonthly meetings to improve opportunities for communication. However, in recent years we have had the benefit of about 80% of our members being email members who we can communicate with whenever necessary. We have a webpage and “info@humbike.org” to address items raised by members or browsers. We also have Facebook to help keep members up to date on key events and issues of concern. And, lastly, attendance has been typically low at our meetings. We will be working on ways to encourage more attendance.
By revising the meeting dates, we have dropped meetings in May and November which have been problematic, anyway, due to conflicts with Memorial Day weekend and Thanksgiving.

Bike Month Volunteers Wanted

If you are interested in working on the Bike Month Humboldt 2016 Coalition, please contact Rick Knapp at 707-445-1097. May is Bike Month.

Sheila Parrott Leaving Eureka Engineering Position for Portland

Sheila Parrot has been one of the most responsive employees we have ever worked with in the City of Eureka. For many years, in spite of difficult financial conditions in the City, we have always been able to count on Sheila to find a way to correct problems and to pursue innovative solutions for cyclists as well as motorists while serving in the Traffic/Signals Division of the City Public Works Department. Her spirit and can-do attitude will be missed. She will be assuming a position with the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

New California Laws Affecting Cyclists in 2016

The following are new laws signed by Governor Brown that go into effect January 1, 2016, extracted from a CHP Press Release dated December 22, 2015:Highway lane use (AB 208, Bigelow) The law requiring slow-moving passenger vehicles to pull over safely to let traffic pass has been amended to apply to all vehicles, effective January 1, 2016. Bicycles will now be included in the legal requirement that slow-moving vehicles use the next available turnout or other area to let backed-up traffic – five or more vehicles – get by.Electronically motorized boards (AB 604, Olsen) The new law defines “electronically motorized board” as a wheeled device designed to be stood on and powered by electronic propulsion, going no more than 15 miles per hour. The electronically motorized boards can only be ridden on a highway with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less, or specific designated bikeways. The rider must be at least 16 years old and must wear a bicycle helmet. Cities and counties are authorized to restrict the use of the electrically motorized boards. . [Editor’s notes: The law allows local authorities to regulate the use on highways, streets, paths and sidewalks. Without local regulation, they may be operated on sidewalks at a speed of up to 15 mph. Operators must be at least 16 years old and must wear helmets. It also requires reflectors and lights similar to that required of bicycles when operating at night.]Electric bicycles (AB 1096, Chiu) The new law, effective January 1, 2016, creates three separate classes of electric bicycles, defined by their maximum speed and how much power is supplied by the motor. Classes 1 and 2 have a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. A Class 3 electric bicycle has a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour. The operator of a Class 3 bicycle must be at least 16 years old and wear a helmet. Manufacturers and distributors must label the bicycles with the classification number, top assisted speed, and wattage. The new law sets up safety restrictions and regulates access on trails and paths.

Who to Call When You See a Safety Concern (Rev. 1/2016)
The HBBCA checked with agencies in the Humboldt Bay region to determine appropriate contact personnel to respond to bike-related issues. If you see a condition that needs to be corrected in order to improve safety or convenience for cyclists such as a pothole in a bike lane, accumulated debris on a roadway shoulder, the need to re-stripe a bike lane, the need to clear vegetation encroaching on a shoulder, or a street light that is out, call the responsible agency/person listed below. Of course, if you see a condition that requires immediate attention, like a stop sign knocked down, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency conditions, the following contact information is provided:

Contact Rick Knapp if you are interested in filing a vacant Board position.

Please Join or Renew Your Membership for 2016

The HBBCA is working to improve and encourage bicycle commuting. Help make it happen by joining now or renewing your membership for 2016.

Your $5.00 annual dues, paid on a calendar year basis, will help pay for youth helmets, bike racks, this newsletter, the website, BikeSmart promotions, “Bike Month” activities, prizes, postage, etc. And, it will help demonstrate your commitment to our goal.

With your membership card, you may request the following discounts on bike parts and accessories: 10% (or more) at Henderson Center Bicycles; 10% at Revolution Bicycle Repair; 15% at Adventure’s Edge; 10% at Pacific Outfitters, and 15% at Sport and Cycle. Membership cards include stickers on the back showing discounts offered by the various bike shops.